From Mountain Forests to Faucets: Collaborative Conservation in a Changing Climate

Our increasingly hot, dry summers increase demand for water for spray parks, pools, and wading pools and prompt watering restrictions for park landscapes. The City of Seattle’s Cedar River Municipal Watershed, located east of Seattle in the majestic foothills of the Cascade Mountains, supplies water for much of the city and surrounding area, including all the parks’ uses, and covers 90,638 acres. 

Staff from the Cedar River Watershed Education Center,  a regional education facility nestled above the shores of Rattlesnake Lake and created as a gathering place to connect people with the source of their water, will take us on a guided tour focusing on parks, water, and climate change as we explore and learn about this remarkable rain-soaked landscape. The watershed is carefully managed to support and supply clean drinking water to 1.5 million people in the greater Seattle area as well as downstream water flows for salmon, lakes, and locks. We will also talk about watershed management, water use, collaborative conservation, and long-term planning– all of which are highly dependent on inclusive and equitable narratives that are easily accessible to the public.

After the tour, we will visit a scenic recreation area to have a bite to eat and take in nature before returning to Seattle.

Please note: This workshop is outdoors, 45 minutes east of Seattle. It is often cooler there than in Seattle so dress accordingly.  The waterfall is a three-minute walk on a forested trail.